There are two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C 17H 20N 2O 4, which differ slightly in the orientation of the phenyl ring and carbonyl groups with respect to the pyrazole unit. In the first molecule, the dihedral angle between the phenyl and pyrazole rings is 68.99 (13)° while the two carbonyl groups make a dihedral angle of 72.1 (4)°. The corresponding values in the second molecule are 68.54 (14) and 71.5 (4)°, respectively.